Time to have your say on supply of alcohol

17 April 2013

Waipa residents are being invited to have their say on whether a local alcohol policy should be adopted for the district.

Environmental Services Team Leader Karl Tutty said a new engagement tool on the council's recently redeveloped website is being used to gain feedback from people in a variety of ways including surveys, forums and quick polls.

While this was just a pre-consultation phase, feedback gained would help pave the way forward for the district when it came to the sale and supply of alcohol so it was important people shared their views, he said.

The Sale and Supply of Alcohol Act 2012 was passed by Parliament in December, and will progressively replace the Sale of Liquor Act 1989 throughout the year, with the new Act being fully in force by December 2013.

The new Act will bring with it a number of changes including the disbanding of District Licencing Agencies and the ability for territorial authorities to hear all applications within their areas, said Mr Tutty.

Local Alcohol Policies can be introduced to control some aspects of alcohol sales within districts, including the number and opening hours of premises and where they should be located, he said.

Territorial Authorities are required to consult with Police, Liquor Licensing Inspectors and the Medical Officer of Health prior to developing a draft policy.

Once a draft policy has been formulated, it will be subject to the full special consultative procedure where the public will again have an opportunity to comment.

Mr Tutty said licensees and managers should by now be aware of the new Act, and its potentially significant effect on how liquor premises are approved and licensed.

While the application process and the types of licenses remain largely unchanged there are changes to offences and other matters which may affect existing as well as new licensed premises, he said.